In continuation of its educative programs on Covid19 in Nigeria, the Centre for Information Technology and Development (CITAD) held its 40th twitter chat on the 25th of August, 2020 with guest was Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu, the executive director, centre for Advocacy, transparency and accountability initiative on the topic “How Citizens can Demand for Accountability on Covid19 Spending”

He started the chat by saying that Members of the community can play a vital role in holding government and intervening partners accountable through many social accountability frameworks.

According to him Citizens’ participation in the process of demanding accountability is key and vital in addressing the pandemic, with many resources being allocated to the health sector to fight against the pandemic and alleviate the suffering of citizens.

He said Citizens can demand accountability through Increased civic and political knowledge; a greater sense of how the allocation is being done in addressing the pandemic. This will help in understanding the context of what has being allocated.

In response to a question on who is responsible in educating the citizens their right to demanding for accountability from government officials, he suggested that; this is a role that civil society groups need to play in supporting citizens to understand the magnitude of engaging government. Citizens need to have an influence in the budgetary process especially releases and implementation.

He opined that as a nation, Nigeria is suffering from weak institutions, making it difficult for us to have adequate information in addressing corruption within the COVID-19 intervention. We need to advocate for in having strong institutions that will support.

He suggested that to some extent the key role citizens can play in demanding accountability in the situation of COVID19 will be through radio programs asking duty bearers questions about some of the key interventions especially Palliative distribution.

When he was asked how citizens can go about demanding accountability on COVID19 spending? He suggest Citizens can go about demanding accountability by engaging duty bearers constructively. Especially through appropriate platforms of both aspect of Government, Executive arm, legislative arm and the judicial arm.

He said Government both at the federal and the state levels have not been doing enough in providing adequate information that will enable citizens to hold them accountable, the office of the Accountant General of the federation is yet to provide citizens with adequate information, making it difficult for a citizens group to hold them accountable. Access to information is one of the major challenges in demanding accountability in the process of COVID-19 intervention especially in the aspect of palliative distribution. This was in response to the question “whether the government is supporting the course of increase in transparency and accountability in the management of COVID19 funds through provision of right information at the right time?”

In another response to the question whether he thinks freedom of information (FOI) can work here? He said FOI to some extend is a tool being used in some states to have access to information, but it has been challenging in implementing the punishment and fines making it easier for many states to bridge the provision of the existing law. There is a need to review the law.

At the end he applaud Civil society groups  for doing a lot in creating awareness and sensitization for Citizens to hold government accountable.

He concluded by saying that in the past weeks, his own organization “centre for Advocacy, transparency and accountability initiative” focus on how to build the capacities of citizens in demanding for accountability.

ENGAGEMENT:

Hello everyone, Do join me in welcoming @ICTAdvocates‘s today guest on twitter chat on #CITADagainstCovid19, @AS_MUAZU, E.D, @CataiCenter, Muaza is an Accountability Advocate. He is going to discuss on How Citizens can Demand for Accountability on Covid19 Spending. Welcome sir.

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu

@AS_MUAZU Aug 25

Replying to

@a_sabo12 @ICTAdvocates and 9 others Citizens’ participation in the process of demanding accountability is key and vital in addressing the pandemic. With many resources being allocated to the health sector to fight against the pandemic and alleviate the suffering of citizens. #CITADagainstCovid19

Members of d community can play a vital role in holding government & intervening partners accountable through many social accountability frameworks. In the recent times, many campaigns have being on going on tracking palliatives and support to the ministries addressing #COVID19

Thank you so much for having me to discuss this great topic today. #CITADagainstCovid19

nissimase@nissimase @AS_MUAZU How can citizens go about demanding accountability on COVIR19 spending? @ICTAdvocates @a_sabo12 #CITADagainstCOVID19 Sir, who responsible in educating the citizens their right to demanding for accountability from government officials? #CITADagainstCovid19

Government both at the federal and the state level have not been doing enough in providing adequate information that will enable citizens to hold them accountable. The office of the Accountant general of the federation is yet to provide citizens with adequate information.

Making it difficult for a citizens group to hold them accountable. Access to information is one of the major challenges in demanding accountability in the process of COVID-19 intervention especially in the aspect of palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19 Ali Sabo @a_sabo12

Replying to @AS_MUAZU @ChiromaHope and 3 others Do you think FOI can work here, sir? #CITADagainstCovid19 FOI to some extend is a tool being used in some states to have access to information, but it has been challenging in implementing the punishment and fines making it easier for many states to bridge the provision of the existing law. There is a need to review the law.

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu@AS_MUAZU Replying to @AS_MUAZU @a_sabo12 and 10 others To some extend the key role citizens can play in demanding accountability in the situation of COVID19 will be through radio programs asking duty bearers questions about some of the key interventions especially Palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu @AS_MUAZU Replying to @AS_MUAZU @ChiromaHope and 4 others Making it difficult for a citizens group to hold them accountable. Access to information is one of the major challenges in demanding accountability in the process of COVID-19 intervention especially in the aspect of palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19

This is a role that civil society groups need to play in supporting citizens to understand the magnitude of engaging government. Citizens need to have an influence in the budgetary process especially releases and implementation. #CITADagainstCovid19 #COVID19 #COVID__19

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu

@AS_MUAZU Replying to @AS_MUAZU @a_sabo12 and 10 others The most important role citizens need to play in demanding for accountability is through using d existing structures of demanding access to information especially on allocation 2 d health sector. Allocation to alleviate the suffering of people by using Freedom of Information act. Civil society groups have been doing a lot in creating awareness and sensitization for Citizens to hold government accountable. In the past weeks, our work @CataiCenter focus on how to build the capacities of citizens in demanding for accountability. #CITADagainstCovid19 Making it difficult for a citizens group to hold them accountable. Access to information is one of the major challenges in demanding accountability in the process of COVID-19 intervention especially in the aspect of palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19

Government both at the federal and the state level have not been doing enough in providing adequate information that will enable citizens to hold them accountable. The office of the Accountant general of the federation is yet to provide citizens with adequate information.

Abubakar Sadiq Mu’azu @AS_MUAZU Replying to @AS_MUAZU @a_sabo12 and 10 others To some extend the key role citizens can play in demanding accountability in the situation of COVID19 will be through radio programs asking duty bearers questions about some of the key interventions especially Palliative distribution. #CITADagainstCovid19

As a nation, Nigeria is suffering from weak institutions, making it difficult for us to have adequate information in addressing corruption within the COVID-19 intervention. We need to advocate for in having strong institutions that will support. #CITADagainstCovid19 #COVID19

Here we come to the end of this discussion with @AS_MUAZU On How Citizens can Demand for Accountability on Covid19 Spending, on behalf of @ICTAdvocates‘s E.D, @YZYau

We thank everyone for joining us & most importantly we appreciate Mr. Muazu for taking educating us on this topic

Sagiru Ado Abubakar @sagiru_ado @a_sabo12 @AS_MAAZU @ICTAdvocates @kamalkano As an advocate and someone with pationate accountable mind, how accountable is the recent distribution of govt palliative of Covid 19 for only 5ppl in each polling box? @ChiromaHope #CITADAgainstCovid19